3 new phrases today:
Hobson's choice: when there is only one choice or none.
Buridan's ass: example of one who makes no move because he is hungry as he is thirsty and is positioned exactly between food and drink.
Morton's fork: a choice between two equally unpleasant alternatives.
... all part of a day's work!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
On the day snow blanketed Shanghai
I wake up and looked out of the window.
Hey! It's snowing heavily and the ground's covered with a thick blanket of snow!
I wake the boy up and we both looked out of the window, mesmerized by the sheets of tiny frozen capsules, floating down from the skies above.
The boy went to school and came back with A, A and A+10 ... and a B (B for blank!?!)
Am happy he's doing well.
Hey! It's snowing heavily and the ground's covered with a thick blanket of snow!
I wake the boy up and we both looked out of the window, mesmerized by the sheets of tiny frozen capsules, floating down from the skies above.
The boy went to school and came back with A, A and A+10 ... and a B (B for blank!?!)
Am happy he's doing well.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Shanghai Zoo - for grass you can walk on
We decided to go to the zoo yesterday. Not sure what to expect. The 'arctic zoo' we visited in our recent trip to Harbin was depressing so I was semi-prepared to be similarly affected.
We bought the tickets and walked towards the entrance, passing an old man who jiggled his can when we neared him. A signal for loose change. The boy asked, "Why are there so many people asking for money?" I had no answer and did not respond.
But my mood was immediately lifted upon entering the zoo. What greeted me was a nice huge lawn and better yet, no signs warning us against putting our feet on the grass! There weren't many people too! I can almost call it deserted. A very rare thing here in crowded Shanghai.
It must have been crazy for most locals to consider going to the zoo that day. The temperature range was between -2 to 2degrees Celsius. But it turned out to be a not too crazy decision. It wasn't a miserably cold day to be out and about. The sun was shinning and there wasn't much wind.
On looking at this satellite map taken off Google (area where the zoo is circled), I realized why I was so happy. The zoo is one of the few pockets of green in Shanghai! I must have been like the animal released into the wild! No more concrete jungle! Grass you can walk on!
The first exhibit we saw was a man sweeping an empty cage. The boy asked, "What is this?" I replied, "This is a man," in the same tone as I would have said, "This is a monkey." He paused and then laughed. My dear boy.
And then we saw the giant panda ( there was just one) who did nothing but ate bamboo leaves, several 'lesser/red pandas' ( which seemed to be the happiest mammals we saw at the zoo), a gorilla who did nothing but ate, regurgitate, eat the regurgitated food, regurgitate, the whole 3-4 minutes we were there and bears who stood on their hind legs, clasped their paws and grunted for food.
Arh, visitors here bring their own entertainment kits - corn for the birds, peanuts for the primates and toss-able pieces of food for the bigger animals. There are signs prohibiting this but no one around to enforce it.
The environment/enclosures for the birds are really nice - they have nice ponds and waterways. I guess they are better off than the mammals (but the price they pay for that is clipped wings).
Alright. I'd stop. Putting compassion for the animals aside, it's a nice place to visit if you have been trapped in the city for a while.
How to get there: The easiest is to hop on the Metro Line 10 and get off at the Shanghai zoo （上海动物园). The station is right below the zoo's entrance. Tickets costs RMB40 and each adult can bring a child below 1.2m for free. Opening hours depends and is normally shorter during Winter. I think it would be safe to assume the zoo is open daily from 10am-4:30pm.
We bought the tickets and walked towards the entrance, passing an old man who jiggled his can when we neared him. A signal for loose change. The boy asked, "Why are there so many people asking for money?" I had no answer and did not respond.
But my mood was immediately lifted upon entering the zoo. What greeted me was a nice huge lawn and better yet, no signs warning us against putting our feet on the grass! There weren't many people too! I can almost call it deserted. A very rare thing here in crowded Shanghai.
It must have been crazy for most locals to consider going to the zoo that day. The temperature range was between -2 to 2degrees Celsius. But it turned out to be a not too crazy decision. It wasn't a miserably cold day to be out and about. The sun was shinning and there wasn't much wind.
On looking at this satellite map taken off Google (area where the zoo is circled), I realized why I was so happy. The zoo is one of the few pockets of green in Shanghai! I must have been like the animal released into the wild! No more concrete jungle! Grass you can walk on!
The first exhibit we saw was a man sweeping an empty cage. The boy asked, "What is this?" I replied, "This is a man," in the same tone as I would have said, "This is a monkey." He paused and then laughed. My dear boy.
And then we saw the giant panda ( there was just one) who did nothing but ate bamboo leaves, several 'lesser/red pandas' ( which seemed to be the happiest mammals we saw at the zoo), a gorilla who did nothing but ate, regurgitate, eat the regurgitated food, regurgitate, the whole 3-4 minutes we were there and bears who stood on their hind legs, clasped their paws and grunted for food.
Arh, visitors here bring their own entertainment kits - corn for the birds, peanuts for the primates and toss-able pieces of food for the bigger animals. There are signs prohibiting this but no one around to enforce it.
The environment/enclosures for the birds are really nice - they have nice ponds and waterways. I guess they are better off than the mammals (but the price they pay for that is clipped wings).
Alright. I'd stop. Putting compassion for the animals aside, it's a nice place to visit if you have been trapped in the city for a while.
How to get there: The easiest is to hop on the Metro Line 10 and get off at the Shanghai zoo （上海动物园). The station is right below the zoo's entrance. Tickets costs RMB40 and each adult can bring a child below 1.2m for free. Opening hours depends and is normally shorter during Winter. I think it would be safe to assume the zoo is open daily from 10am-4:30pm.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Exams over.
He should be done with his last paper by now.
Chinese paper: He said he didn't know how to write 1 or 2 characters.
Maths paper: He says he will score 110 marks. ( The paper is 100% + 20% (optional section with more challenging questions) He said he didn't know how to solve this optional question: 20+x=5. What is x?
English (as a first language / taught by foreign teacher): His 1st paper/ written one = ZERO. We all know why. Subsequent MCQ paper (he filled up everything) + Aural exam should be ok.
English ( local syllables): If he's not careless, should be able do very well.
He doesn't need to go to school until the 20th, and even then, only for a couple of hours to collect his results. Then it's winter vacation! 21 Jan - 13 Feb
Chinese paper: He said he didn't know how to write 1 or 2 characters.
Maths paper: He says he will score 110 marks. ( The paper is 100% + 20% (optional section with more challenging questions) He said he didn't know how to solve this optional question: 20+x=5. What is x?
English (as a first language / taught by foreign teacher): His 1st paper/ written one = ZERO. We all know why. Subsequent MCQ paper (he filled up everything) + Aural exam should be ok.
English ( local syllables): If he's not careless, should be able do very well.
He doesn't need to go to school until the 20th, and even then, only for a couple of hours to collect his results. Then it's winter vacation! 21 Jan - 13 Feb
Monday, January 10, 2011
Better!
Paper II: He came back annoucing that he had a MCQ (Multiple Choice) paper and filled up everything, including his name.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Horrors
Am told that the boy handed in an EMPTY, UNFILLED, BLANK English exam paper this morning. Blank to the extent that he didn't even write his name on it .....
.....It can't get worse than this can it?
.....It can't get worse than this can it?
Weather report
Was looking at my feet.... they haven't been this WHITE in a long time - but then so are most of me, and us. we've been wrapping ourselves since October. The weather has since turned even colder, with the highest daily temperature below 10 degree Celsius.
I send the boy to school with 3 tops (2 cotton ones sandwiching the woollen sweater- because he hates to have any skin contact with the woolly) + his school jacket, long johns and lined pants, thick socks and winter boots to school.
Layering remains key to attaining a balanced body temperature. This gives me a headache. I not only have to decide what I need to wear to work, but how to keep warm and still have these 2 groups of clothing match! This reminds me of what the boy said the other day in exasperation,
"I don't want to feel cold. I don't want to feel hot. I just want to feel normal!"
I send the boy to school with 3 tops (2 cotton ones sandwiching the woollen sweater- because he hates to have any skin contact with the woolly) + his school jacket, long johns and lined pants, thick socks and winter boots to school.
Layering remains key to attaining a balanced body temperature. This gives me a headache. I not only have to decide what I need to wear to work, but how to keep warm and still have these 2 groups of clothing match! This reminds me of what the boy said the other day in exasperation,
"I don't want to feel cold. I don't want to feel hot. I just want to feel normal!"
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Recent
Marriage
Who do you want to marry when you grow up?
> I don't know.
Auntie M asked A and A said she wants to marry you.
> OK OK!!! *nodding vigorously* I marry her!
*Hahhahaa*
Why not QQ?
> Too many.
What do you mean by "too many?"
> She has twins already!!!
Exhausted
Do you want to drink Milo?
> No.
What do you want to drink?
> Milo.
*I raise my eyebrows... the Big one started wheezing from trying to contain his explosive laughter.... the exhausted boy slowly realized what happened.... and laughed tears.
Entertainment
On the road, he plays the games we downloaded on the iPhone, Uno, blackjack and 4 different types of hand games.
Hand Game 1: Players stick out 1 finger on each hand. You start swiping your opponents fingers. 1st one to add up to 10 wins.Player with 2 on one hand and 8 on another can placed the 8 (shaped like a gun) on the 2 (shaped like a V and looks like a stand) to shoot your opponent down.
Hand Game 2: (2 players) Scissors paper stone - winner gets to swipe a finger on the loser's head... loser makes a guess which finger was used. If loser guessed right on the 1st try, loser gets to pull the other party's ear. If the guess is wrong, the other party gets to pull. ( 3 players)... Determine who is the loser by playing "black or white"... Odd one out is the loser. Remaining 2 player plays scissors paper stone... winner gets to play with the loser.
Hand Game 3: "Chee-koo-pak" (variation of scissors paper stone). Players show their chosen scissors, paper or stone sign(s) on both hands. On the players call, he/she gets to shout out the sign(s). The idea is to switch your signs such that it is not the one(s) being called out. Otherwise, the hand 'dies'.
Hand Game 4: Clapping sequence... determine and agree on a pattern from the start. Start from 1 and increase the cycle to 2, 3, 4X etc. For example, if the pattern is
Clap both hands, clap right hands, clap front & back.
Then 2X will be clap both hands twice, clap right hands twice, clap front & back twice... and so forth.
We were on a train for 18 hours at a stretch on one leg of our recent trip...these games, especially the hand games, helped us passed time joyfully.
Laundry
Been doing laundry non stop for 2 days now. We wore every single piece of clothing we brought along plus more that we bought along the way during out recent trip and wore them all for 5 days straight. The boy's record was wearing 8 layers on top, 5 pairs of pants, 3 pairs of socks, heat pads, hat under his multiple hoods, mask, scarf, 2 pairs of gloves and woolly boots.
Trip
We travelled from Shanghai - Harbin - 长白山(ChangBai Mountain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baekdu_Mountain) - Shenyang - and back to Shanghai.
Wouldn't recommend anyone make this crazy trip. It was sooo cold! The temperature at the mountain peak was minus 40 degrees Celsius...and the winds was so strong, I felt like I was being lifted every time I took one feet off the ground. The cold was so bad, my head hurt madly from skull-freeze. I think the boy could easily have been blown away had he not thankfully refused to wake up - he stayed in the car while we attempted to make the short climb to the lookout - to see the caldera. I didn't make it... Hah!
Unesco
The old imperial palace in Shenyang http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukden_Palace is the 4th Unesco World Heritage Site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_List the boy has visited - after Halong Bay (Vietnam), Angkor (Cambodia) & Kakadu National Park (Australia).
Bad
Too bad we were only given an hour at the site before being rushed to shop ( guide gets 5% commission - a very maddening culture!)
Good
The meal specification on the tour is 8 dishes and 1 soup- a great way to learn how to dish up a 9-course Chinese meal!
Finally
2010 is coming to an end. It's been quite a journey!
Who do you want to marry when you grow up?
> I don't know.
Auntie M asked A and A said she wants to marry you.
> OK OK!!! *nodding vigorously* I marry her!
*Hahhahaa*
Why not QQ?
> Too many.
What do you mean by "too many?"
> She has twins already!!!
Exhausted
Do you want to drink Milo?
> No.
What do you want to drink?
> Milo.
*I raise my eyebrows... the Big one started wheezing from trying to contain his explosive laughter.... the exhausted boy slowly realized what happened.... and laughed tears.
Entertainment
On the road, he plays the games we downloaded on the iPhone, Uno, blackjack and 4 different types of hand games.
Hand Game 1: Players stick out 1 finger on each hand. You start swiping your opponents fingers. 1st one to add up to 10 wins.
Hand Game 2: (2 players) Scissors paper stone - winner gets to swipe a finger on the loser's head... loser makes a guess which finger was used. If loser guessed right on the 1st try, loser gets to pull the other party's ear. If the guess is wrong, the other party gets to pull. ( 3 players)... Determine who is the loser by playing "black or white"... Odd one out is the loser. Remaining 2 player plays scissors paper stone... winner gets to play with the loser.
Hand Game 3: "Chee-koo-pak" (variation of scissors paper stone). Players show their chosen scissors, paper or stone sign(s) on both hands. On the players call, he/she gets to shout out the sign(s). The idea is to switch your signs such that it is not the one(s) being called out. Otherwise, the hand 'dies'.
Hand Game 4: Clapping sequence... determine and agree on a pattern from the start. Start from 1 and increase the cycle to 2, 3, 4X etc. For example, if the pattern is
Clap both hands, clap right hands, clap front & back.
Then 2X will be clap both hands twice, clap right hands twice, clap front & back twice... and so forth.
We were on a train for 18 hours at a stretch on one leg of our recent trip...these games, especially the hand games, helped us passed time joyfully.
Laundry
Been doing laundry non stop for 2 days now. We wore every single piece of clothing we brought along plus more that we bought along the way during out recent trip and wore them all for 5 days straight. The boy's record was wearing 8 layers on top, 5 pairs of pants, 3 pairs of socks, heat pads, hat under his multiple hoods, mask, scarf, 2 pairs of gloves and woolly boots.
Trip
We travelled from Shanghai - Harbin - 长白山(ChangBai Mountain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baekdu_Mountain) - Shenyang - and back to Shanghai.
Wouldn't recommend anyone make this crazy trip. It was sooo cold! The temperature at the mountain peak was minus 40 degrees Celsius...and the winds was so strong, I felt like I was being lifted every time I took one feet off the ground. The cold was so bad, my head hurt madly from skull-freeze. I think the boy could easily have been blown away had he not thankfully refused to wake up - he stayed in the car while we attempted to make the short climb to the lookout - to see the caldera. I didn't make it... Hah!
Unesco
The old imperial palace in Shenyang http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukden_Palace is the 4th Unesco World Heritage Site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_List the boy has visited - after Halong Bay (Vietnam), Angkor (Cambodia) & Kakadu National Park (Australia).
Bad
Too bad we were only given an hour at the site before being rushed to shop ( guide gets 5% commission - a very maddening culture!)
Good
The meal specification on the tour is 8 dishes and 1 soup- a great way to learn how to dish up a 9-course Chinese meal!
Finally
2010 is coming to an end. It's been quite a journey!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
今天下雪了!
He wasn't too keen on leaving his pre-school in August to come here to Shanghai with me. He wanted to stay in Singapore till December.
I told him that there is Autumn, and Winter, and 4 seasons here in Shanghai. He wanted to know if it'd snow in Shanghai. I said, "Yes." ( I didn't think then that it would not) So he said, 'Ok. I want to eat snow."
Found out after we got here that snow rarely makes its appearance in Shanghai. *Oh s**t!*
And so, you can imagine how happy and thrilled I was when I found out this morning on the news that it was going to snow... and it did! I shot this photo at 3pm:
Spoke to the boy on the phone.... the first thing he said was, "今天下雪了 ". I asked him if he'd tasted it... and he said, almost shyly, "Yes, it's very nice."
I am grateful.
I managed not to lie.
Thank you.
I told him that there is Autumn, and Winter, and 4 seasons here in Shanghai. He wanted to know if it'd snow in Shanghai. I said, "Yes." ( I didn't think then that it would not) So he said, 'Ok. I want to eat snow."
Found out after we got here that snow rarely makes its appearance in Shanghai. *Oh s**t!*
And so, you can imagine how happy and thrilled I was when I found out this morning on the news that it was going to snow... and it did! I shot this photo at 3pm:
Spoke to the boy on the phone.... the first thing he said was, "今天下雪了 ". I asked him if he'd tasted it... and he said, almost shyly, "Yes, it's very nice."
I am grateful.
I managed not to lie.
Thank you.
Monday, December 13, 2010
He did.
They had an Arts competition in school. He could submit a drawing or play the piano... or any other instrument. His drawings are .... nicely terrible. He just started learning the piano and have not yet progressed beyond playing the C-major scale. So, I suggested he play a piece on his violin. He wanted to play '童话' and I was fine with whatever he prefers.
But his violin teacher wasn't and wanted him to play "春天来了" & "茉莉花" instead. I thought the competition proper was to happen later this month so we all thought there would be plenty of time for him to prep. But no. I received a notification on a Monday that he is to bring his violin to school that Wednesday for the competition.
Right, out the window went the 2 pieces he was to prepare. He practiced his '童话' about 20X that Tuesday evening and went to school with his violin the next day. I took some time off to go to his school to play the piano part.
While we were rehearsing, a teacher walked in... I did not know he was going to be the judge. So I was unprepared when he closed the door and said, "Let's start!".
Was quite disheartened. Since the Judge had already heard most of it. The whole thing was not quite what I had pictured in my mind.
The boy played his piece (again). But this time, the kids who were shut out of the room started jumping up and down outside, trying their darnest to peep in through the window...and he was very distracted by them, giggling at one point while playing his violin and eventually forgetting which line he was on midway through... Horrors!!! I continued the accompaniment solo while urging him to come back in at the next section. ... he gave up and put his violin down... the Judge encouraged him to continue. He did eventually.
This was not my idea of a reasonable/ fair/ ok performance and so I didn't think more of it.
Until this morning, when I was notified to send his teacher a photo of him because he had won a prize in the competition.
He won what?!?
But his violin teacher wasn't and wanted him to play "春天来了" & "茉莉花" instead. I thought the competition proper was to happen later this month so we all thought there would be plenty of time for him to prep. But no. I received a notification on a Monday that he is to bring his violin to school that Wednesday for the competition.
Right, out the window went the 2 pieces he was to prepare. He practiced his '童话' about 20X that Tuesday evening and went to school with his violin the next day. I took some time off to go to his school to play the piano part.
While we were rehearsing, a teacher walked in... I did not know he was going to be the judge. So I was unprepared when he closed the door and said, "Let's start!".
Was quite disheartened. Since the Judge had already heard most of it. The whole thing was not quite what I had pictured in my mind.
The boy played his piece (again). But this time, the kids who were shut out of the room started jumping up and down outside, trying their darnest to peep in through the window...and he was very distracted by them, giggling at one point while playing his violin and eventually forgetting which line he was on midway through... Horrors!!! I continued the accompaniment solo while urging him to come back in at the next section. ... he gave up and put his violin down... the Judge encouraged him to continue. He did eventually.
This was not my idea of a reasonable/ fair/ ok performance and so I didn't think more of it.
Until this morning, when I was notified to send his teacher a photo of him because he had won a prize in the competition.
He won what?!?
阿姨一号
I think I should write about 阿姨No.1
Day 1 She's not someone who has to work and told me so.
Day 2 She didn't want to work past 6:30pm ( which would be a big rush for me) - fine.
Day 3 She didn't know how to use the vacumn machine - taught her.
Day 4 She didn't know how to iron - wanted to teach her but she said she sends her own clothes to the laundry to be pressed.
No Day 5.
Day 1 She's not someone who has to work and told me so.
Day 2 She didn't want to work past 6:30pm ( which would be a big rush for me) - fine.
Day 3 She didn't know how to use the vacumn machine - taught her.
Day 4 She didn't know how to iron - wanted to teach her but she said she sends her own clothes to the laundry to be pressed.
No Day 5.
阿姨三号？
阿姨二号第一句话是,"恐怕要给你失望了!"
> I'm afraid you will be disappointed.
She took an hour to get to our place... so she (rightly) decided that this job will not be viable.
*sigh*
> I'm afraid you will be disappointed.
She took an hour to get to our place... so she (rightly) decided that this job will not be viable.
*sigh*
Friday, December 10, 2010
啊姨
Everytime I have a new helper... my heart skips a beat. 阿姨二号 (Helper No.2) will come by tomorrow.
Not playing fair.
He hates to lose ... and tries to switch his cards recklessly - whether or not I'm looking - and thinks the only way to win is to snitch an arsenal of Draw 4's and +2's. I still win. Frustrated, he ropes in his friend, his Tigger so that 'they' can exchange cards. He plays both his and Tigger's sets of cards against me but won't let Tigger win. Even when Tigger is down to 2 cards, he gets Tigger to not say "Uno" so that he can catch him and give him a 2-card penalty. Hilarious!
Monday, December 06, 2010
UNO
Friday, December 03, 2010
Growing wings again...
17-21 December - Macau, China
23-26 December - Harbin, China
24-28 January - Louisville, USA
29 - 13 February - Singapore!!!
23-26 December - Harbin, China
24-28 January - Louisville, USA
29 - 13 February - Singapore!!!
就近 Education
Recently occured to me to ask: "Is there a Primary School Leaving Examination in China?"
"No."
Ok, then which secondary schools do the kids go to?
"就近" ... which means the school near where you stay.
Everybody has 9 years of compulsory education. And then they have the first major exams, after which they go on to high school (50%) and then take the university entrance exams. The other 50% go on to technical institutions, polytechnics or join the labour market.
Hmm... so there's really no pressure until the kid turns 15.
I'm on 3 year contract... why am I asking these questions?
"No."
Ok, then which secondary schools do the kids go to?
"就近" ... which means the school near where you stay.
Everybody has 9 years of compulsory education. And then they have the first major exams, after which they go on to high school (50%) and then take the university entrance exams. The other 50% go on to technical institutions, polytechnics or join the labour market.
Hmm... so there's really no pressure until the kid turns 15.
I'm on 3 year contract... why am I asking these questions?
Friday, November 26, 2010
Committed
Thank you for your interest in sponsoring a Shanghai Sunrise student! As you may have read from our website (www.shanghaisunrise.com), Shanghai Sunrise was started in 1995 to help remove families from the poverty cycle through educational sponsorships. We believe that it is every student's right to have an education, because it is education that will enable these students to create opportunities for themselves and become contributing members to society. Since its inception, Shanghai Sunrise has sponsored over 1600 students and currently supports over 500 students. All students are sponsored on a one-to-one basis and all sponsorship monies donated are used for education purposes.
You have indicated in your application form that you are interested in sponsoring a student. The sponsorship is RMB 3000 per student per year but as we are in the middle of the School Year, we will be collecting RMB 4500 to cover for the student's 2nd semester fee for School Year 10-11 and for the full School Year of 11-12. Once donation is received (please see attached for the donation instructions), we will assign a student to you and provide you with the student information within two weeks.
We have a twice a year pairing ceremony for new sponsors where you will get a chance to meet your student and the next one is set for February this year at the Hilton Hotel. We will inform you of the specifics when the date has been set. It is quite an experience to meet the student that you are sponsoring. Of course, if you would like to meet your student any other time, we can also arrange for that.
Finally, Shanghai Sunrise is a 100% volunteer-run expat operation so if you are interested in volunteering 8 or more hours a week, do let us know!
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
You have indicated in your application form that you are interested in sponsoring a student. The sponsorship is RMB 3000 per student per year but as we are in the middle of the School Year, we will be collecting RMB 4500 to cover for the student's 2nd semester fee for School Year 10-11 and for the full School Year of 11-12. Once donation is received (please see attached for the donation instructions), we will assign a student to you and provide you with the student information within two weeks.
We have a twice a year pairing ceremony for new sponsors where you will get a chance to meet your student and the next one is set for February this year at the Hilton Hotel. We will inform you of the specifics when the date has been set. It is quite an experience to meet the student that you are sponsoring. Of course, if you would like to meet your student any other time, we can also arrange for that.
Finally, Shanghai Sunrise is a 100% volunteer-run expat operation so if you are interested in volunteering 8 or more hours a week, do let us know!
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Beggarship
Over here, there is 1 at every corner.
Just where I stay, there is
- this old man with a plaster on his temple.
- this young lady with a baby girl who is never awake
- this old lady with a 4-5 year old girl with dirty hands and feet
- this man who sits on a floor with a 2-3 year old girl playing nearby
And along the way to work, there is
- this very lost looking man who tries to give me the newspapers he has recycled from the bins, in exchange for a coin..
In the area where the boy has his violin lessons,
- there is this skin and bones girl who crawls on the floor
- a boy without arms
And there's always old ladies who sell jasmine flowers that they've carefully strung ... actually they aren't really beggars ...
Occasionally, you'd see
- lady with a note placed on the floor seeking for money to pay for bus fare / meal
- blind man playing the flute with old lady leading the way
- 3 young people in a group, kneeling with heads bowed, with a bowl in front of them.
The worst or most determined beggar I've ever seen - is a man, covered with 'self-inflicted' wounds that are oozing blood, half-naked on an overhead bridge, ... and there was blood on his shorts, the steps, the floor, everywhere...
My mother gave some money to a man without a limb. 5 others approached her in quick succession.
I wanted to buy a piece of melon from a peddler on the road, an old lady approached me with outstretched hands and I ended up putting the money in her palm.
A colleague gave RMB100 to an old man in a wheelchair who had an old lady beside him - thinking they were a couple and ended up being chased 2 blocks by the lady who demanded to be given as much.
Everyday, amidst the bright lights of a modern day city, the hardship of living pulses along with it. Faceless people in my face, telling me how fortunate I am.
Every year, at this time, we choose a charity to support. Last year, it was NKF. This year, the Big One suggested Community Chest.
But I'm thinking maybe if I can pluck 1 kid off the street and put him/her in school and be committed to doing that for at least 10 years. How will the picture change for the world?
Nothing.
But the world will open up for this 1 kid.
Just where I stay, there is
- this old man with a plaster on his temple.
- this young lady with a baby girl who is never awake
- this old lady with a 4-5 year old girl with dirty hands and feet
- this man who sits on a floor with a 2-3 year old girl playing nearby
And along the way to work, there is
- this very lost looking man who tries to give me the newspapers he has recycled from the bins, in exchange for a coin..
In the area where the boy has his violin lessons,
- there is this skin and bones girl who crawls on the floor
- a boy without arms
And there's always old ladies who sell jasmine flowers that they've carefully strung ... actually they aren't really beggars ...
Occasionally, you'd see
- lady with a note placed on the floor seeking for money to pay for bus fare / meal
- blind man playing the flute with old lady leading the way
- 3 young people in a group, kneeling with heads bowed, with a bowl in front of them.
The worst or most determined beggar I've ever seen - is a man, covered with 'self-inflicted' wounds that are oozing blood, half-naked on an overhead bridge, ... and there was blood on his shorts, the steps, the floor, everywhere...
My mother gave some money to a man without a limb. 5 others approached her in quick succession.
I wanted to buy a piece of melon from a peddler on the road, an old lady approached me with outstretched hands and I ended up putting the money in her palm.
A colleague gave RMB100 to an old man in a wheelchair who had an old lady beside him - thinking they were a couple and ended up being chased 2 blocks by the lady who demanded to be given as much.
Everyday, amidst the bright lights of a modern day city, the hardship of living pulses along with it. Faceless people in my face, telling me how fortunate I am.
Every year, at this time, we choose a charity to support. Last year, it was NKF. This year, the Big One suggested Community Chest.
But I'm thinking maybe if I can pluck 1 kid off the street and put him/her in school and be committed to doing that for at least 10 years. How will the picture change for the world?
Nothing.
But the world will open up for this 1 kid.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Homework monster
That's me.. the homework monster.
He's getting homework everyday now. Usually 2 pages of maths, 1 page of chinese writing, English worksheets ( about 2-3 times a week)... and ALL the work that he should have but had not finished in school. It takes him more than 2 hours each day to complete them. And in between, I try not to SCREAM at him to pay attention, sit properly, lift his chin off the table, put his left hand on the table..... sit properly, pay attention, focus, check...think, sit properly, don't look around, stop dreaming...... stop playing with his pencil, sit properly... I try not to PINCH him.... sit properly!!... I try not ot SLAM the table top... STOP WASTING TIME!!!
He has NO time to do anything else... Really!
I have NO time to do anything else.. Really!
He's tired.
I'm tired.
We need to work this out...
He's getting homework everyday now. Usually 2 pages of maths, 1 page of chinese writing, English worksheets ( about 2-3 times a week)... and ALL the work that he should have but had not finished in school. It takes him more than 2 hours each day to complete them. And in between, I try not to SCREAM at him to pay attention, sit properly, lift his chin off the table, put his left hand on the table..... sit properly, pay attention, focus, check...think, sit properly, don't look around, stop dreaming...... stop playing with his pencil, sit properly... I try not to PINCH him.... sit properly!!... I try not ot SLAM the table top... STOP WASTING TIME!!!
He has NO time to do anything else... Really!
I have NO time to do anything else.. Really!
He's tired.
I'm tired.
We need to work this out...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
